BitsServer

AI stethoscope detects major heart conditions in seconds, says UK study A new generation of stethoscopes powered by artificial intelligence (AI) could transform the way doctors detect life-threatening heart conditions, according to researchers in the UK. In what experts are calling a potential “game-changer,” a study led by Imperial College London and Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust found that the AI-enabled device can identify heart failure, heart valve disease, and abnormal heart rhythms within seconds. Unlike the traditional stethoscope invented in 1816, the updated model replaces the chest piece with a sensor about the size of a playing card. Using a microphone, it records subtle differences in heartbeat and blood flow that are imperceptible to the human ear. The device simultaneously performs an electrocardiogram (ECG), sending the data to the cloud, where it is analysed by AI trained on tens of thousands of patient cases. Read More: Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang says AI boom fa...

Love stories — in AI Back in 2013, when Spike Jonze released Her, the idea of a lonely man falling in love with his operating system seemed unsettling and far-fetched. Joaquin Phoenix’s Theodore poured his heart into Samantha, a disembodied voice who was warm, intelligent, and always attentive — because that was her basic function. The film left audiences wondering whether it was absurd or inevitable that such intimacy might one day replace human bonds. Fast forward a little more than a decade, and in 2025 — coincidentally also the year the movie is set in — Theodore no longer feels like a character from speculative fiction. He could be any of us, typing late at night into ChatGPT or Replika, surprised by how much comfort comes from a line of text. The uncanny echoes don’t end there. In Andrew Niccol’s Al Pacino–starrer Simone (2002), a virtual actress crafted out of pixels becomes more beloved, more emotionally compelling, than any real celebrity. She is adored for her perfection, h...

Meta curbs AI flirty chats, self-harm talk with teens Meta is adding new teenager safeguards to its artificial intelligence products by training systems to avoid flirty conversations and discussions of self-harm or suicide with minors, and by temporarily limiting their access to certain AI characters. A Reuters exclusive report earlier in August revealed how Meta allowed provocative chatbot behavior, including letting bots engage in "conversations that are romantic or sensual." Meta spokesperson Andy Stone said in an email on Friday that the company is taking these temporary steps while developing longer-term measures to ensure teens have safe, age-appropriate AI experiences. Read More: Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang says AI boom far from over Stone said the safeguards are already being rolled out and will be adjusted over time as the company refines its systems. Meta's AI policies came under intense scrutiny and backlash after the Reuters report. US Senator Josh Hawley launch...

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang says AI boom far from over Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang on Wednesday dismissed concerns about an end to a spending boom on artificial intelligence chips and said opportunities will expand into a multi-trillion-dollar market over the next five years. Despite Huang's upbeat view on AI demand, shares of the chip designer fell 1.56% to $178.77 in premarket trading on Thursday as the company's tepid third-quarter sales forecast disappointed investors. The sales outlook excluded potential revenue from China, underscoring uncertainty caused by Sino-US trade tensions. Read More: Google AI Mode rolls out in Pakistan Huang sought to reassure investors rattled by indications of slowing growth at the chipmaker at the center of the investment frenzy. His bullish outlook contrasts with recent signs of fatigue in AI-focused stocks and comments from industry leaders about overheated investor enthusiasm. "A new industrial revolution has started. The AI race is on,...

Musk’s Starship clears key tests in 10th flight Elon Musk’s SpaceX on Tuesday launched its giant Starship rocket for the 10th test flight, aiming to overcome past setbacks and prove key milestones for the reusable Mars-bound system. The 403-foot-tall vehicle blasted off from SpaceX’s Starbase in south Texas at 7.30pm EST (2330 GMT), testing new heat shield tiles, a redesigned engine landing system, and a satellite deployment mechanism. Photo: Reuters Read: SpaceX eyes Starship reusability milestones in rocket's tenth flight test As planned, Starship’s upper stage separated from its Super Heavy booster, which ditched into the Gulf of Mexico instead of attempting a tower catch. The spacecraft then re-entered Earth’s atmosphere before splashing down in the Indian Ocean — surviving a re-entry phase that destroyed earlier prototypes. In another first, Starship successfully deployed mock Starlink satellites using its “Pez-like” dispenser system, a milestone missed in previous tests. ...

Apple to unveil new iPhones, watches on September 9 Apple said on Tuesday it will host its annual fall event on September 9, where the company is expected to unveil new iPhones, watches and other devices. The event will be held at the Steve Jobs Theater at Apple’s headquarters in Cupertino, California, and will showcase the company’s efforts to integrate artificial intelligence into its products. It will be closely watched by investors amid concerns that Apple risks ceding ground to rivals moving faster in the race to deploy AI technology. Read More: Elon Musk's xAI sues Apple, OpenAI over AI competition, App Store rankings Media reports said Apple will also unveil a slimmer version of its latest iPhone, possibly branded as the iPhone Air, echoing its iPad Air and MacBook Air product lines. The company is also expected to showcase new entry-level and high-end Apple Watches, upgraded iPad Pros, and a faster version of the Vision Pro headset, according to Bloomberg News. Under pres...

US Studio unearths fossilized dinosaur game 'Turok' Everything old is new again, especially for gamers at the Gamescom trade fair, who got a preview of upcoming video game "Turok: Origins" -- a third-person shooter pitting the player against dinosaurs and aliens. The original arrow-twanging Turok was a character in 1950s comic books, who made his way to Nintendo 64 consoles in a series of successful games in the late 1990s and then to other consoles in the 2000s. After that, its eponymous native American adventurer was largely forgotten -- until US studio Saber Interactive dug him up for "Turok: Origins" and developed him into a game that looks like a blend of the "Jurassic Park" and "Predator" movie franchises. When Universal Studios -- producer of the "Jurassic Park" movies -- tapped Saber in 2020 to develop its Turok intellectual property (IP), the gaming company was "shocked", its studio head, Jesus Iglesias, tol...

WhatsApp tests voicemail-style feature for missed calls WhatsApp is testing a new feature that will allow users to leave a voice message when their call is not answered. The update, spotted by specialist website WABetaInfo, is currently available only to beta testers of the messaging platform. Read More: As mental health systems strain, AI chatbots emerge as 24/7 therapy friends At present, WhatsApp calls that go unanswered simply show up as missed notifications, with users typically following up by sending a text or voice note manually. The new tool would instead prompt callers with the option to record a message immediately after a missed call, in a move similar to traditional voicemail services. The Meta-owned platform has not confirmed when the feature will roll out more widely. However, testers can already try it by joining WhatsApp’s beta programme via the Google Play Store. Voice messages remain a popular function on WhatsApp, with billions sent daily worldwide, despite the ge...

SpaceX eyes Starship reusability milestones in rocket's tenth flight test Elon Musk's SpaceX is set to launch its massive Starship rocket for a tenth time from Texas on Sunday to achieve several long-sought development milestones missed due to past tests ending in early failures. The 232-foot tall Super Heavy booster and its 171-feet (52 meters) tall Starship upper half sat stacked on a launch mount at SpaceX's Starbase rocket facilities ahead of an expected 7:30 p.m. ET liftoff time. Musk is expected to provide an update on Starship's development progress prior to the rocket's launch on Sunday. Development of SpaceX's next-generation rocket, the center of the company's powerful launch business future and Musk's Mars ambitions, has faced repeated hiccups this year as NASA hopes to use the rocket as soon as 2027 for its first crewed moon landing since the Apollo program. Read More: OpenAI to launch first India office in New Delhi this year The future of...

When rain in Karachi drowns Pakistan’s Internet Like every other morning in Pakistan’s largest city, Karachi’s residents set out for work on August 19 with the usual routine in mind. The drive back home, often slowed down by traffic, was a familiar nuisance for those used to the metropolis. Karachi is not a city of frequent rains—showers are mostly limited to the monsoon season—and this year, citizens had been enjoying overcast skies for weeks. But that evening, as thunderclouds gathered, few imagined how dramatically the day would end. The forecast had warned of rain, yet most people did not take it too seriously. The Met department’s predictions often miss the mark, and so many chose to step out for work anyway—some by preference, others compelled by employers who expect presence at all costs. After all, working from home is not always reliable in Karachi, where internet services are patchy even on clear days. Pakistan lags far behind other nations in internet penetration and speed...

As mental health systems strain, AI chatbots emerge as 24/7 therapy friends Pierre Cote spent years languishing on public health waitlists trying to find a therapist to help him overcome his PTSD and depression. When he couldn’t, he did what few might consider: he built one himself. “It saved my life,” Cote says of DrEllis.ai, an AI-powered tool designed to support men facing addiction, trauma, and other mental health challenges. Cote, who runs a Quebec-based AI consultancy, tells Reuters that he built the tool in 2023 using publicly available large language models and equipped it with “a custom-built brain” based on thousands of pages of therapeutic and clinical materials. Like a human therapist, the chatbot has a backstory — fictional but deeply personal. DrEllis.ai is a qualified psychiatrist with degrees from Harvard and Cambridge, a family and, like Cote, a French-Canadian background. Most importantly, it is always available: anywhere, anytime, and in multiple languages.  “P...

TikTok's UK content moderation jobs at risk in AI shift Social media platform TikTok announced on Friday it will restructure its UK trust and safety operations, putting several hundred jobs at risk as it shifts to AI-assisted content moderation. The move is part of global restructuring plans by TikTok, owned by China-based ByteDance, which also affects moderator jobs in South and Southeast Asia, notably in Malaysia. "We are continuing a reorganisation that we started last year... concentrating our operations in fewer locations globally," a TikTok spokesperson told AFP. TikTok added that it plans to reshape content moderation "with the benefit of technological advancements." Read More: OpenAI to launch first India office in New Delhi this year Content moderators are tasked with keeping content such as hate speech, misinformation and pornography off the platform, which has more than 1.5 billion users worldwide. But, globally, there is a trend of social media com...

OpenAI to launch first India office in New Delhi this year ChatGPT parent OpenAI will open its first India office in New Delhi later this year, deepening its push in its second-largest market by user numbers. OpenAI, which is backed by Microsoft has been established as a legal entity in India and has begun hiring a local team, the company said in a statement shared with Reuters on Friday. India is a critical market for ChatGPT, where it launched its cheapest yet monthly plan at $4.60 just this week, targeting the nearly one billion internet users in the world's most populous nation. OpenAI faces legal challenges in India, with news outlets and book publishers accusing the firm of using their content without permission to help train ChatGPT. The company has denied any wrongdoing. Read More: DeepSeek launches faster V3 AI model with China chip support "Opening our first office and building a local team is an important first step in our commitment to make advanced AI more acces...

Pakistan issues list of illegal apps for betting, forex and binary trading Pakistan’s cybercrime agency has declared 46 mobile applications illegal as part of a nationwide crackdown on online gambling, unregulated trading, and data privacy violations. The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) said that the banned apps were operating in violation of national laws, facilitating illegal betting, casino-style games, and unlicensed forex and binary trading. The agency warned that the platforms pose serious risks to users’ financial security and personal data. Among the banned gambling apps are 1xBet, Chicken Road, Aviator Games, Dafabet, 22Bet, Casumo, Rabona, 10Cric, Plinko, and Bet365 — many of which are widely used across the region, officials said. The list also includes unregulated forex and binary trading platforms, which the NCCIA said could enable financial scams and illegal money transfers due to a lack of oversight. In addition, the agency flagged several apps th...

Google's latest Pixel phones packed with AI unveiled Google on Wednesday unveiled new Pixel 10 smartphones that promise more artificial intelligence capabilities, as it seeks to elbow out competition in the emerging AI-assistant market. Comedian Jimmy Fallon hosted a launch event in Brooklyn that blended Google product pitches with stars such as The Jonas Brothers band and Stephen Curry of the Golden Gate Warriors basketball team. "This is exciting," Fallon, host of NBC's "The Tonight Show," said in an opening monologue. "It's like a Taylor Swift announcement for nerds." The line-up of new products included a foldable phone, improved Pixel smartwatch, and ear buds all synced to work with AI and each other. "Pixel continues to be the best way for people to try out the latest bleeding-edge AI from Google," product manager Tyler Kugler said during a briefing with journalists.

Nvidia working on new AI chip for China that outperforms the H20, sources say Nvidia is developing a new artificial intelligence chip for China based on its latest Blackwell architecture that will be more powerful than the H20 model it is currently allowed to sell there, two people briefed on the matter said. US President Donald Trump last week opened the door to the possibility of more advanced Nvidia chips being sold in China. But the sources noted U.S. regulatory approval is far from guaranteed amid deep-seated fears in Washington about giving China too much access to U.S. AI technology. The new chip, tentatively known as the B30A, will use a single-die design likely to deliver half the raw computing power of the more sophisticated dual-die configuration in Nvidia's flagship B300 accelerator card, the sources said. A single-die design has all the main parts of an integrated circuit on one continuous piece of silicon rather than split across multiple dies. The new chip would ha...

Taxila teen drives car using mobile app A 19-year-old from Taxila, Muhammad Subhan, has driven a car using hand gestures through a mobile application, a development he says could help make driving more accessible for people with disabilities. Subhan explained that a small device installed in the car enables complete control via a mobile phone, with finger movements sending commands to the vehicle. He said the innovation is aimed at providing opportunities for people with disabilities to drive independently using gesture-based mobile controls. People often overlook the fact that we are surrounded by remarkable technology, and behind every object that makes life easier lies the hard work of an inventive mind. Whether in our homes or offices, in mobile phones or defence equipment, in cars or sea and air vessels — these innovations are designed to make our lives easier. Even if we do not give it much thought, the reality is that modern technology is the result of the exceptional intellig...

AI-powered humanoids edge closer to household chores A new demonstration of the Figure 02 humanoid robot has reignited debate over the role of artificial intelligence in domestic life. According to CNET news, the California-based robotics firm released footage of the machine folding six towels, completing each in around 22 seconds. The company says the trial underlines how far humanoid robots have come in handling everyday household tasks. Read More: New Chinese EV maker enters Pakistan Expanding household potential The demo follows another video shared by Figure’s chief executive, Brett Adcock, showing the robot crouching to load a washing machine — a function many consumers would welcome. Other robotics developers are pursuing similar applications. The Norwegian company 1X has showcased its humanoid model Neo carrying laundry baskets and operating washing machines. Such demonstrations highlight the growing focus on domestic robotics, an area long viewed as one of the most commercia...

Türkiye unveils next-gen VTOL drones to extend unmanned naval reach Turkish defence firm Havelsan has unveiled a new generation of vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) drones designed to strengthen naval operations and extend the reach of unmanned maritime platforms. According to Daily Sabah, the systems — developed at Havelsan’s Robotic Autonomous Systems Centre — can operate independently or in tandem with ships, ground vehicles, and unmanned surface vessels. They are equipped with runway-independent take-off and landing, autonomous mission control, and modular payloads for reconnaissance, surveillance, and intelligence gathering. First overseas deployment in Malaysia In a deal with DESAN Shipyard, one of the drones, BOZBEY, will be integrated onto a 99-metre multipurpose mission ship destined for Malaysia’s Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA). The contract includes training, logistics, and long-term support. Havelsan says BOZBEY will be able to launch and land directly on the v...

Musk’s xAI to sue Apple over alleged App Store antitrust violations Billionaire Elon Musk said on Monday his artificial intelligence startup xAI would take legal action against Apple accusing the iPhone maker of breaching antitrust regulations in managing App Store rankings. "Apple is behaving in a manner that makes it impossible for any AI company besides OpenAI to reach #1 in the App Store, which is an unequivocal antitrust violation. xAI will take immediate legal action," Musk said in a post on his social media platform X. Apple has a partnership with OpenAI that integrates ChatGPT into iPhones, iPads and Macs. Musk did not provide evidence to support his claim. Apple, OpenAI, and xAI did not respond to Reuters requests for comment. Read More: Apple rolls out iOS 26 beta 6 with new features OpenAI CEO Sam Altman responded to Musk on Monday. "This is a remarkable claim given what I have heard alleged that Elon does to manipulate X to benefit himself and his own compa...

China uses 5G, AI ‘robot antelope’ for wildlife monitoring A lifelike “robot antelope” is roaming Tibet’s Hoh Xil plateau as part of China’s expanding surveillance network, state media footage shows. With doe-like eyes and thick brown fur, the 5G- and AI-enabled device closely resembles the endangered Tibetan antelope while scanning the area with its sensors, according to Xinhua. Developed by Xinhua, the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Hangzhou-based DEEP Robotics, it uses real-time monitoring to track the migration, feeding and mating habits of the species. Read: China's robo-athletes ready for world China has offered its robotics industry tens of billions in subsidies and recently hosted the 2025 World Robot Conference. 5G services reached Tibet in 2019 and, by 2022, the region had one million users. A base station built in Gogmo in late 2023 extended coverage to every district, state media reported. Beyond monitoring wildlife, the infrastructure supports AI applications includ...

Fake TikTok shops linked to malware campaign targeting cryptocurrency Cybercriminals are exploiting TikTok’s shopping feature to distribute malware and steal funds from unsuspecting users. Reported by cybersecurity firm CMT360, the scheme involves fraudsters creating convincing imitations of legitimate e-commerce profiles, often using AI-generated content to bolster credibility. These fake “TikTok Shops” - also seen on Facebook - advertise steep discounts to lure potential buyers. Once users click through, they are redirected to phishing portals disguised as genuine retail sites. According to CTM360, more than 10,000 fraudulent URLs have been traced to TikTok Wholesale and Mall pages. 🚨 15,000+ fake TikTok Shop domains are being used in an AI-powered scam campaign dubbed ClickTok, blending phishing, malware, and crypto theft into one deceptive funnel. From trojanized apps and fake storefronts to AI-generated influencer videos and phishing pages, threat… pic.twitter.com/46Zi1Grit...

Apple rolls out iOS 26 beta 6 with new features Apple has released the sixth developer beta of iOS 26. The update introduces new ringtones, changes to the Camera app, interface refinements, and faster app performance. It comes as the software approaches its expected public release in September. Released on Tuesday alongside new betas for iPadOS, watchOS, tvOS, and macOS, the new beta focuses more on smaller refinements, as reported by TechCrunch. Among the most noticeable additions is a set of six new ringtones, all derived from the existing “Reflection” tone. Early testers have shown particular interest in the “Dreamer” tone, which has drawn praise on social media. The new "Dreamer" ringtone in iOS 26 Beta 6 is such a bop! pic.twitter.com/2JExYjQRT6 — Beta Profiles (@BetaProfiles) August 11, 2025 In the latest beta, Apple has also reverted the Camera app’s swipe behaviour to its original form. The change comes after a much-criticised modification altered the ...

US to collect share of Nvidia, AMD AI chip earnings from China US semiconductor giants Nvidia and Advanced Micro Devices have agreed to pay the United States government 15 percent of their revenue from selling artificial intelligence chips to China, according to media reports Sunday. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang met with US President Donald Trump at the White House on Wednesday and agreed to give the federal government the cut from its revenues, a highly unusual arrangement in the international tech trade, according to reports in the Financial Times, Bloomberg and New York Times. According to the Financial Times, the artificial intelligence chips that are part of the agreement with the US government are Nvidia's "H20" and the "MI308" from Advanced Micro Devices (AMD). Nvidia did not deny the reported deal when approached for comment. "We follow rules the US government sets for our participation in worldwide markets," a spokesperson told AFP. Read More: Nv...

New Google Finance tool uses AI for real-time insights and market analysis Google is testing a new AI-driven version of its Google Finance service, designed to deliver instant financial insights and interactive tools for investors. The updated platform allows users to ask natural language questions about stocks, markets, and cryptocurrencies, returning detailed answers alongside links to relevant sources. It also offers advanced charting features, such as moving average envelopes and candlestick views, to help visualise market trends. A live data and news section provides up-to-the-minute information on global markets and digital assets, aiming to combine research, technical analysis, and breaking financial news in one interface. Google says the trial will help refine the service before a wider rollout, as it seeks to integrate AI more deeply into its consumer tools.